An Unwanted Second Chance (JB Tirado) novel Chapter 49

“How long have you worked for the Council Miss Atwood?” he asked, his voice quiet.

“Six years,” she replied. “And you can call me Riley.”

He nodded. “I assume, Riley, that there are rules about Council members getting involved with pack members

while on assignment.”

She felt her cheeks heat up. “Yes, sir. I’m sure you know that as well.’

He smiled slightly, looking remarkably like Patrick as he tilted his head to the side. “So the rumor I’m hearing about and the alpha would be false?”

“What rumor?” She felt her body stiffen as Gideon regarded her for a moment.

“I’m told you were ill recently. Ill enough that you were taken to the hospital. I’m told that Alpha rushed home the moment he found out. That he came into the hospital in quite a state and later insisted on taking you to

the pack house with him.”

Riley felt frozen as she stared at Gideon. His voice was calm and his face was impassive, but she could hear

a tone that made her uneasy.

“I asked my son about it and he made up some story about Kent being worried about it reflecting poorly on the pack if something were to happen to a Council worker. That’s rubbish and I know it. But I have always told Kent that you don’t s**t where you eat. I know he’s had needs since my daughter was killed, but I would expect him to show a certain level of control when he is inside his own pack.”

Riley suddenly wondered why it didn’t occur to her that if Gideon was Patrick’s dad, he was also Lily’s. She realized now that the tone she heard in Gideon’s voice was one of protectiveness, for his son–in–law. She felt her expression soften.

“I understand what you’re saying, sir.”

“Good,” Gideon said with a nod. “Then I will trust you to do your job as expected. You are well respected at

the Council and I want to be able to share that opinion with everyone else.”

“Of course, sir.”

Gideon nodded again, giving her a tight smile. “Have a nice evening, Riley. I look forward to speaking with you again when this whole ordeal is over.”

He strode away, leaving Riley alone, clenching her fists at her side.

**

Kent walked slowly with Zane to the far side of the training building where a small parking lot sat. Kent waited for Zane to speak, feeling like a child about to be chastised.

Zane finally stopped at the edge of the asphalt parking lot and turned to face Kent. He was only an inch shorter than Kent, but Kent still felt like the little kid that had to crane his neck to look into Zane’s face.

“What’s going on with the new advisor, Kent?” Zane asked softly.

“What do you mean?” Kent played dumb.

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<Chapter 49

Points

Zane shook his head. “Don’t. I’ve known you since you were born, Kent. There are rumors going around the pack about you and her. So I’d like to know the truth.”

Kent hesitated. He wasn’t stupid. He had heard about the rumors, but he had dismissed them. There were always rumors about an alpha. It was just part of his job.

“There’s nothing going on with her,” he lied.

“So why did you go into the hospital screaming and shouting when she was sick?” Zane asked, c*****g his head to the side. “She hasn’t been by your side constantly since then?”

Kent frowned, looking away. “Why are we talking about this, Zane?”

“Because what you do affects your pack, Kent. “Zane put a hand on his shoulder, forcing Kent to look at him. “I don’t blame you for wanting to have a companion. It’s been four years since Lily died. I would be happy to see you move on and take a chosen mate, but messing around with a council advisor when your pack is under constant threat of attack isn’t the right thing to do now.”

Zane sighed and shook his head, dropping his hand from Kent’s shoulder. “We talked about this after your father died and you took over. An alpha shouldn’t mess around with she–wolves inside the pack. It’s too messy and complicated.”

“I’m not messing around with Riley.” Kent looked away from Zane.

“I might be getting older, but I’m not stupid, Kent. You need to think about what is best for your pack right

now.”

“I am,” Kent gritted out. “I’m always doing what’s best for my pack.”

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